Coronavirus – 18.03.2020

We are writing to you again to update you with further information regarding school’s response to the Coronavirus outbreak.

As previously mentioned, we are continuing to receive and act upon daily updates published by the Department for Education and the Local Authority. At the point of writing this letter the advice is that schools still remain open but this is still a constantly changing situation.

We continue to ask that if you suspect your child is showing symptoms of the Coronavirus you do not bring them into school. We are following guidance which states;

• All staff, young people and children are now required to self-isolate for 7 days if they live alone, or for 14 days from the onset of symptoms if they are part of a household where symptoms have been displayed
• Symptoms requiring a member of staff or pupil to self-isolate are a new, continuous cough and/or a high temperature (of 37.8 degrees centigrade or higher)
• Even if a member of staff or pupil starts to feel better during a period of self-isolation they must complete the 7/14 days of self-isolation and must not return to school early
• The geographic/travel element has now been removed and the diagnosis regarding Coronavirus is made on symptoms alone. If families who have travelled do not have symptoms they do not need to self-isolate, regardless of their travel history
• If a member of staff or pupil feels the same or worse after 7 days they must ring NHS 111 or use the online NHS 111 Service for advice

The government has listed a number of underlying health conditions which could lead to a person having an increased risk of severe illness from Coronavirus. This list includes those who have chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic heart/liver/kidney disease, chronic neurological conditions, diabetes and weakened immune systems. We advise that parents who feel that their child is part of this vulnerable group of people should seriously consider not sending their child to school at the present time.

In an effort to significantly limit the number of people entering the school building, we have cancelled placements for all college students and volunteers. A number of multi-agency meetings which were scheduled to be held in school have also been cancelled or postponed. We ask that you also support us to limit the number of people entering the school building by only entering the building to speak to a member of school staff if absolutely necessary. If you are admitted into the main school building, you will be required to wash your hands.

Please be aware that any child or member of staff who becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough and/or a high temperature will be sent home. The following website provides a wealth of information and guidance for any household with possible coronavirus infection:

Our IT Manager is continuing to prepare our school learning website which we hope will be available for pupils to access should a school closure be enforced. Please be aware that this website will not be live until a full closure is underway. We would like to take this opportunity to remind you that we are not able to set work for pupils who are already self-isolating or who may need to begin self-isolation in the next few days. As previously mentioned, pupils will be provided with an exercise book in which to record their work and answers in response to tasks set online. The number of pupils attending school has decreased daily, therefore these workbooks have been sent home with all pupils today to ensure as many pupils as possible have access to them should the school be forced to close. Pupils in Years 2 and 6 have also brought home SATs revision packs. These packs would have been sent home to be completed over the Easter holiday. Today, all families unable to access online learning should have had an opportunity via our school texting service to reply to a message with the words ‘NO ACCESS’. For these families a single printed home learning pack will be provided in due course.

Since writing to you yesterday, the number of staff absent from school has increased. Therefore, if school remains open it is highly likely that it may be necessary to partially close the school or combine pupils in individual classes or key stages. Again, as previously mentioned, if a partial closure is necessary we would contact you as soon as possible via the school’s groupcall texting service.

We continue to send our best wishes to all families associated with our school in the hope that you stay safe and healthy in the weeks to come.